CA2171219A1 - Pixel arrangement for flat panel display - Google Patents

Abstract

An active liquid-crystal multi-colored display panel structure (20) comprised oftriangular triads of colored display pixels (22) which are rotated 90.degree.. The display (20) comprises a plurality of colored pixel electrodes (16) arranged in rows and columns to form a matrix, wherein a row control line (26) is provided every 15 rows of electrodes (16), and wherein three column control lines (30) are provided for each two columns of electrodes (16). Thus, a matrix of 720 x 720 pixel electrodes (16) requires 480 row control lines (26) and 1080 column signal lines (30). The active liquid crystal display structure (20) can be directly driven by a video source such that 480 active lines of video signal can be mapped directly onto the 720 rows of pixel elements (16). A switching circuit (50) is provided for controlling the arrangement of R, G and B pixel signals (51) to the column source lines (30). The triads of pixel elements (22) provided are rotated 90.degree. to maintain high resolution while allowing a standard video signal to be directly mapped onto the display (20) without additional electronics such as a ping-pong memory.

Description

2 1 7 t ~ t ~
WO 9 ~ 38l PCI-/US94/108S4 -I -PIXEL ARRANGEMENT FOR FLAT PANEL DISPLAY
BACKGROUND OF T~li. INVENTION
I. Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to an active-matrix liquid crystal multi-color 5 display panel structure, and more particularly, to a unique display panel structure compriQetl of generally triangular triads of colored display pixels arranged to permit 480 scan lines of data to be n,a~cd directly onto 720 rows of dots while retAining a norrnal scAnning sense.
II. DiscussionOfThePriorArt Active-matrix liquid crystal multi-colored display panel structures are typically cnmprice~ of a matrix of colored display pixels arranged in rows and colurnns and which are controlled by semiconductor swi~ g devices. The semiconductor ~wiL~l~ing devices are typically compriQed of thin-film trAnQiQt(lrs of, for eY~mrle the amorphous-silicon field-effect design. Typically, multi-colored images are produced on 15 liquid crystal display panels by providing colored filters in association with pixel electrodes across a layer of liquid crystal. Construction techniques of liquid crystal multi-colored display panel ~L~l.lCLu~`~,~ are well kno-wn in the art, and many control srh~m~c can be imple~ "~ to control each ofthe colored filters.
The pixel ~~ and control scheme can ~l~ t~ ....;..~ the image quality, 20 resolution, and the wlw~u-~d g~;n~,.aled picture artifacts associated with the particular pixel arrangement and control srl~Plne~ C~llsLlu ilion of active-matrix liquid crystal multi-colored display panel ~u;lu.es and some ofthe Ac50çi~t~d ~lir~l~ are tliccll~se~l in detail in U.S. Patents 4,969,718 to Noguchi, et al., which is ~cQi~d to NEC
Col~ol~lion, and in U.S. Patent 4,822,142 to Yasui and which is ~Q~i n~l to Hosiden 25 Electronics Collll,a,ly, Ltd. Both patents are incol~.ol~ed herein by lcfc.~.lce.
Present ,~,se~ch and development efforts are cQntiml~usly improving the picture quality of color images gG~ ed on display pane!s. Arranging colored pixel elements in triangular AtTAngGn~ , commonly referred to as triads, is one known design method of improving picture quality and resolution. Arranging the colored pixel el~m~ntQ in 30 triads is generally ~ d over other arrang~;~nenL~ such as linear groups or "L" shaped groups.

WO 95/09381 ;~ 9 PCT/US94/1~1854 The present invention is directed to f~rilit~te the mapping of video data from avideo source onto a panel which has an insufficient number of dots to permit a simple 1:1 mapping of the incoming data onto the display surface. In paTticular, the problem addressed is how to map a 480 active line color video onto a surface with 720 rows of 5 720 columns of pixel elernrntc or dots. The video data is typically ~ sllliued from a signal source, such æ a digital map comprising 480 slit samples, each of which is in an analog data stream format.
A display panel having a matrix display which can accommodate directly mapping 480 active lines of color video signals onto a display surface with 720 rows 10 and 720 columns of pixel Plem~tc display while ret~ining the normal sc~nninf~ sense is desirable to reduce cost and design compleYity. A l~i,L.uctuled panel comrri~ing pixel electrodes and illlt;l~ ~ to the dots which permits the panel to be sc~nn~(l directly, with no need for auxiliary memory or colll~,ollell~ is p~cr~ d.
OBJECTS OF T~ ~ lTION
It is acco,.lhlgly a ~ II'ipAl object of the invention to provide a liquid crystal multi-colored display panel sllu;tulc which permits 480 scan lines to be lll~,ued directly onto 720 rows of pixel dots while lctA;..il~g the nonnal sc~nning sense.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal multi-colored display panel sll uclu,~ which is co. . .posed of a plurality of triangular triads of multi-colored display pixel electrodes to ensure a high quality picture with a high resolution.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal multi-colored display panel ~llu~ c which il~CO~ lalcS a practical amount of scAI~l.;ng control lines and column signal lines, and v~ chl the colored pixel rl~ are of an acceptable size to provide high resolution yet which can be easily m~mlf~ctllred.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a liquid crysta'i multi-colored display panel structure v~h~,;ll the plurality of triads of pixel elements are arranged and controlled such that unpleasant display artifacts are reduced. '' SIJMMA~Y OF T~. TNVFl~ITION
The fol~,going fcalules and objects are achieved by providing a liquid crystal multi-colored display panel sll u~;lulc having triads of colored display pixel electrodes which are rotated 90, v~l~e.~ill a scA~.I.;..g control line is provided every l.S rows of wogs~3~81 2 1 7 1 ~ t 9 PCTIUS94/10854 electrodes and wherein three column signal lines are provided for every two columns of colored display pixel electrodes. This design results in one of the three colors of display pixel electrodes being bisected throughout the display. This arrangement allows 480 scan lines to be ~ ed directly onto 720 rows of pixel electrodes while ret~inin~ the 5 normal sc~ sense. No auxiliary lllc~ or line storing is required, and the display panel structure can be m~mlf~ lred using practical techniques.
The liquid crystal multi-colored display panel structure comrri~es a subst~nti~lly l.~sl,alellt ~ e having a plurality of colored display pixel electrodes disposedthereon to form a matrix having columns in the first direction and rows in a second 10 direction. The colored display pixel electrodes include three types of colors, namely the ~lilll~ colors of red, blue and green. The colored display pixel electrodes in ~ cent columns are offset a~ tely one-half distance from one another such that they form a plurality of gPner~lly triangular triads which are rotated 90 from conventional and prior art ~l~u~gclllents. Thus, one side of each triad extends in the vertical direction.
15 A plurality of column signal lines are disposed b~ Iw~ell the pixel columns of the matrix and extend in a first or vertical direction. A single signal line is provided bet~,veen alternate ~dj~t Pnt columns of pixel electrodes, and a pair of signal lines are alternately disposed bc;lweell the other ~dj~Pnt columns, rçsnltin~ in three column signal lines for every two columns of pixel electrodes. Thus, the res~lltin~ arrzm~n.~nt is an altt rn~tin~
20 pattern of one and two column signal lines eYtPnding ~lw~ll the columns of pixel electrodes.
The second portion of the control structure includes a plurality of sc~
control lines ~ posed every one and one-half rows of the matrix display and which extend in a second or hc~liGull~l direction. These sc~nnin~ control lines extend between 2~ two pixel electrodes of two dirrt lelll colors of a triad in ~ltPrn~tinp columns, such that the sc~nnin~ line extends across or l~;rul~es the third pixel electrode of the triad of a third color in ~llt.. 1 ~ columns. Thus, each triad of pixel electrodes coInrri~es one pixel electrode of a first and second color on o~,o~iile sides of the h~ sC~nning line, while one birurc~led pixel electrode of the third color is defined to the left or right 30 of the first two electrodes, such that the triads are int~rl~ced A plurality of ~wilcllillg l~ ;clo~ ~ are provided, one coupled to each of the first and second color types of pixel electrodes, and one conn~cte~l to at least one of the two wo 95/09381 2 ~ ~ ~ 2~ t 9; PCr/Uss4/10854 halves of the third color type of pixel electrodes. The two halves of the third type of electrodes can either be electrically connected together such that they are bothcontrolled by one transistor, or a sepa.d~e transistor can be provided for each of the halves. Each transistor is preferably comprised of a thin-film FET having a first 5 t~rmin~l or drain co.~eclcd to one of the colored display electrodes, a second t~nnin~1 or gate co. ..,~ d to one of the signal lines, and the third terrnin~l or source connected to one of the column sc~nning lines to control conductivity ~ lwt;~ll the respective first and second tennin~le. The third t~nnin~l of the ~wiL~ g ~ sislOls associated with the colored display electrodes of the first and second colors of each triad are defined on 10 opposile sides ofthe scA~ control line. As such, the gate or gates associated of the colored display electrodes of the third color type of each triad are tli~posed on one or the other of opposite sides of the lc~e~ilivc sc~nning line. If both halves of the electrodes of the third type are electrically tied together, only one :jwiL~,hing transistor is required for both halves of the pixel clectl.~des. Otherwvise, a sep~e transistor can control the 15 ~ li./e half of the pixel electrode of the third color type. It is noted that only one sc~nning control line is provided for each triad of pixel electrodes. Thus, only one gate pulse is required per triad and the control intPrf~e need not be complicated.
In one embodiment of the invention, two of every three of the column signal lines are col...f~ted to the second t~nin~le ofthe ~wilcli,ng transistors associated with 20 the pixels of two di~ cllL color types. This provides, for ;..~ c, one column signal line to be co..i-~ted to only those pixel electrodes of one color type, such as green in cPnt columns. The other two signal lines will each be connected to the other twotypes of pixel electrodes in ~ Pnt columns, such as the blue and red pixel electrodes.
The column signal lines will control the pixel electrodes of a triad addressed by the 25 sc~nning control line. ln operation, as the rows of pixel electrodes of the display are sç~ cl from top to bottom, when sc~nning the odd rows, a column signal line willcontrol one color, such as red. When sçA.~..;..g the even rows, the same signal line will control the blue color pixel electrodes. Again, the third of every three column signal lines control electrodes of only one color, such as green, regardless of whether an even 30 or odd row of pixels is being sç~nn~cl ln another embotlim~nt of the present invention, each of the column signal linesis connPcted to the second tçrmin~l of the ~wilcl~ g transistors associated with the WO 95/09381 2 1 7 1 ~ ~ ~t PCT/US94/108~4 S
electrodes of two di~L.ent color types. Thus, when sc~nning odd rows, each colurnn signal line will control pixel electrodes of one color of each triad, and when sc~nning even rows, the same colurnn signal line will control pixel electrodes of each triad of the other color. The sc~nning control line which is scanned ~letPnninçs which electrode is 5 controlled. The colurnn signal lines provide a variable voltage to each of the scanned pixel electrodes to g~ e a field in the liquid crystal bc~weell the .c~e~ e pixel electrodes and the common electrode to control the passage of light thc~cthlough. Light having the al,~ro~ Le wavelength select~d for the color filter associated v~ith the particular color display is, thus, passed through the color filter so that a picture elPm~nt 10 in any of a total of eight dirf~,.cll~ colors can be produced by a triad of pixels respectively ~si~d to the three ~ l~ y colors. Thus, a full color picture can beproduced which is co~ )osed of picture e1emPntc with steplessly varied color tones.
The display panel :illUi~UlC inc~ çs control cir iuill~/ for col-nç~ g and coo..l;~ the column signals ~ ell a control signal bus and the signal lines, which 15 is dependent on wll~ an odd or even row of pixels is being sc~ A row drive circuit is col~ cl~l to the scAI~ g control lines for driving each of the plurality of scan lines in ~yllcl~lunism with the h~ ol~ 1 sç~nning cycle of a video signal, and a column drive circuit is connPcted to the colurnn signal lines for :iuh~lying a video signal to each of the signal lines ~llc.e;ll the input of the column drive circuit is col-l-f ~iLPd to a control 20 circuit which provides the video signals.
B~ .1P DESCI~TPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a sect;on~l view showing, in a simplified form, the general c~n~k.~ction of a prior art liquid cryst~l display device;
Figure 2 is a view showing a relation arnong display electrodes which are 25 ~rr~n~d in triads of three-colored display C1L . ~ sets, Whe~C11I the triads are rotated 90 and v~ the sç~ g control lines for each row of triads extends ~lween two electrodes of difr~ colors and ~;ru~ s one electrode of a third color;
Figure 3 is a view showing the relation among display electrodes, drive lines inclntling column and sc~ g lines, and the thin film 1r~n~i~tors which control the 30 coll~onding electrodes, wll~.~m a sep~ e thin film ~ ul is provided for each half of the l~iru,cated electrode, and wherein each of the three signal lines can control electrodes of two dirr~.e~ll color types;

217121q Wo 95~38l PCTIUS94/10854 Figure 4 is an AltçrnAtive embodiment of the prerel.ed invention modified such that one of every three column signal lines controls an electrode of only one color type, with the other two column signal lines controlling pixel electrodes of two different color types;
Figure 5 is an yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention wllc~cin the biru-~idled pixel electrode of each triad of the third color is controlled by a single switching transistor and each half being electrically connected to the other.
Other objects, fedLu.es and advantages of the present invention will become d~Ja~ to those skilled in the art upon reading the following Des.,.;lJLion of the PrcL l,ed Embolliment the "Claims", and by referring to the drawings herein in which like mlm~rAI~ refer to like elements.
DESCRIPTION OF T~. PREFliRRED EMBODIMFl~T
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a liquid crystal display device which comrri~es a pair of Lldlls~ ul~s~ les 10 and 12 and a liquid crystal 14 sealed therebetween. A plurality of Lr~al~,.lL square display electrodes are provided on the inner surface of one of the ~ .e.ll substrates 10 and 12. A tr~n~p~rent common electrode 18 is provided on the entire inner surface ofthe other ~ ,dte 12 opposile electrodes 16. The display electrodes 16 are ~rr~nge~l in rows and columns and are actively controlled by thin film ~ lor.~ ~tt~hed to them. The thin film tr~n~i~tors are controlled by row or scs.nn;l~g drive lines and column signal drive lines. A more ~let~ile~l des.~ tion of a typical prior art colored liquid crystal display device is described in U.S. Patent 4,822,142 which is hereby illcul~oldLed by l~,Ç~.~;.lce.
R~fe~Ting to Figure 2, the ~lef~,.led embodiment of an active-matrix liquid crystal multi-colored display panel sllu~;lure is genPr~lly shown at 20. Display 20 is Ill~ lr~ d using well-known techniques, such as techniques used to create the structure shown in Figure 1. However, the plcr~l~d embodiment of the present invention is vastly di~.e..l from prior art displays in that the arrangement andintercoll. Ie~il;vll of the display electrodes, the row sc~nning and column signal drive lines, and the ~ldllgC;ll~ of the thin film transistors is unique colll~ ed to prior art 30 arrangelnen~s. In Figure 2, display electrodes 16 are ~rr~n~d in rows and columns to form a display matrix as shown. The pixel electrodes 16 are compr1~ed of one of three colors, namely, the primary colors of red, blue or green. The pixel electrodes 16 are WO 95109381 2 ~ 7 b ~ t 9 PCT/US94/108~4 arranged in a pattern prod~l~ing a plurality of generally triangular interleaved triads of colored display pixels. Each triad compricPs one pixel of each of the three primary colors. These color groups or triads are lcplesellled by the dotted triangular grouping identified at 22. Each of the triads 22 form a triangle shape and have an apex shown at 24. Apex 24 is always centered over a ~e~iliv-e row or sc~nning control line 26. All triads 22 are oriPnted and interleaved such that the apex 24 of the triads 22 are disposed on either the right side or the left side of the triangle as one observes the display with the column drive lines P~rtPnrling in the vertical direction as shown in Figure 2. Hence, electrodes 16 in ~ e~.I columns are offset from one another one-halfpitch di~t~nce which is halfthe height of an electrode 16.
The arrangement of pixel electrodes into triads is well known for providing a picture of enh~nrecl resolution which is free from image moires. However, the ..gr.~ .Pnt of the triads 22 in accor~lce with the present invention is unique from the prior art becauie each triad 22 is rotated 90 such that one side 28 of each triad 22 15 extends in the vertical direction. As shown, one ~.. .pl.,t~ pixel electrode 16 of triad 22 lies on the other side of the l~e.;liv-e sc~ g control line 26, while the third pixel electrode 16 ofthe triad ~lc.xil,lale apex 24 is divided or bifurcated by control line 26 with one-half of the b;rul-,aLed pixel electrode 16 ~ ted on each side of control line 26. Thus, only one of the three pixel electrodes 16 which form each triad 22 is divided 20 or hll~.s~,tt:d by a control scA~ line 26. None ofthe pixel electrodes 16 is hl~ e~;led by any of the column signal control lines 30. As shown in Figure 2, several column signal control lines 30 are provided. Specifically, there are three control lines 30 for eæh triad 22. In other words, there are three control lines for each two colurnns of pixel electrodes 16, yielding 50% more signal control lines 30 than columns of pixel 25 electrodes 16. While this ~ ng~nnPnt nPccss~ es a higher hl~rcol;~e~;l density in the h~.. ;,~.,.l~l direction and also ~ uiles ~ tio~l gray scale driver electronics, current and hllplovillg technologies for in~egldlt:d driver electronics, such as chip-on glass or direct I . ~ or d~osilioll techniques can provide the l .f cess~. y higher h~lco~ c dencities at a re~n~hle cost.
Still r~fPrring to Figure 2, a first triad group Tl, and a second triad group T2 are sho~,-vn and are shaded for illustration purposes. Triad groups Tl and T2 are also co~ictPntly shown in Figure 3 as will be ~ cn~ed shortly. Triads 22, typified by triad WO95/09381 2 1 7 1 2 I q PCT/US94/10854 Tl, are all arranged with apex 24 to the right in odd rows of triads and in even rows.
such as triad T2, the apex 24 is positioned to the left. This arrangement allows the triads in ~fljacent rows to interleave and provide a high density of pixel electrodes 16 per unit area. High density, of course, tr~nel~tes into high resolution pictures without S undesirable display artifacts.
One key feature of the present invention is that only one sc~nning control line 26 is required per triad 22. Hence, only one gate pulse needs to be provided, allowing for less complex driving electronics. A control line 26 is provided only every 1.5 rows of pixel electrodes 16. This design is advantageous over prior art displays because the 10 pixel electrodes 16 can be larger in area than pixel electrodes in displays having a sç~nning line for every row of pixel electrodes and m~nllf~tllre is simplified.
Moreover, prior art displays having a sc~nning control line for every other row of pixel electrodes are inferior becn..ee the smaller electrodes of the present invention provide higher image quality and resolution. Thus, the present invention is unique from the 15 prior art due to the unique design arrangement of the sc~nning control lines and the column signal control lines and the rotated triads to achieve a display panel capable of high quality images yet which can be directly driven by the control electronics.~ ferring to Figure 3, the relation of the display electrodes 26 to the column signal drive lines 30, row or sc~nninp drive lines 26, thin film ~ 40 and 20 drive/control ~ ;uiLl y 42 is illl.~ For ~ ,oses of illllctr~tion and clarification, co..eecl,l;v-e row or sc~nning control lines 26 have been labeled L~, L2, L3. . . from top to bottom, and wlle~ colurnn signal control lines 30 are ,ere.~.lced left to right as C~, C2, C3 .... Triads T~ and T2 wll~olld to the triads tliecll~ced in relation to Figure 2.
Each of pixel electrodes 16 are controlled by a les~eL;Livt: thin film ~wiLching transistor 25 40, as will be ~ cllceed in greater detail shortly. Circuit 42 provides controls and drives the column control signals, corleieting of pixel information, to the three-color display element sets forming the pixel array, as will now be described in detail.
Altemate rows of sc~,...;..g drive lines 26 are driven in s~l,cl~l~ollism with the hol ;,""1~1 sync pulses Hsyl~ by the conventional arrangement of a row register 44 and a 30 row drive circuit 46. More specifically, all the odd rows labeled Ll, L3. . . are first succes~ively driven in syl,cl~onism with the hofi~or,L~I sync pulses, and then the even row drive lines, L2, L4. . . are driven to co,llplete a picture on the display in an 21~2t~
WO 95~'G93~1 PCT/US94/10854 _9 interlaced manner. A swi~chillg circuit 50, forming a subset of circuit 42 connects the input signal lines R, G and B to control signal busses 52, 54 and 56 as shown. When the odd rows of triads are being sca.~ed by the driving electronics via lines L~, L3 . . . ~
switching circuit 50 routes the signals R, G and B, labeled as inputs 51, to color signal S busses 52, 54, and 56, ~eclively. Thus, signal control line Cl provides red pixel information to each ofthe ~ c.Pnt red pixel electrodes 16, signal control line C2 provides green pixel info~m~tion to each of the ~dj~rPnt green pixel electrodes, and signal control line C3 provides blue pixel ;..fU....~1 ;on to each ofthe ~acrnt blue pixel electrodes 16. S~se lu~nlly, when even rows of triads are stroke sc~nnp~l via sc~ln-il-g 10 lines, L2, L4. . ., ~wile~ lg circuit 50 provides the R, G and B pixel illÇûl~ Lion to color signal busses 56, 52 and 54, respectively. Thus, in the pl~r~"ed embotlimpnt~ each signal control line Cl, C2, C3 . . . can provide pixel i~r~.. "~s.t;l~n oftwo dirr~.ell~ colors to cP.nt columns of electrodes 16 as controlled by bus :jwilchillg circuit 50.
A tertiary counter 60 is provided ~e.~. ~.. tr~min~l 72 providing the Hsyn ho. ;~ l sync pulse and swi~ ,g circuit 50. Counter 60 counts to 240 (halfthe number of total scan lines) as the row control electronics completes sç~nnin~ the 240 odd rows of control lines 26. Counter 60 provides :iwilcllillg circuit 50 a control signal on line 61 to initiate the re~emPnt of the R, G and B pixel signals to color signal busses 52, 54 and 56 before the sul,se4.,~ 1.1 sc~nniT~ of the even rows of control signals 26. Thus, to ~ 1e one co.. lplf-tr frame on the display 20, the odd row control lines 26 labeled Ll, L3 . . . are sç~ Pd first, and then the even control lines 26, labeled L2, L4 . . . are sc~nnPrl Swil,l~in~ circuit 50 re~ nges the R, G and B inputs labeled 51 to color signal busses 52, 54 and 56 only twice every g~ ed frame on the pixel array 20.
To g~ f -S~e an image on display 20, pixel ;.~ro.. ~;on is first loaded from the .Gsye~ e colored signal bus 52, 54 and 56 into column ~ isl~ls 62. A clock signal, CLK, having three times the dot r~ u~,~,cy of the input colored video signal is supplied as a shift clock from a clock tennin~l 68 to a shift register 70. The hol;;~olllal sync pulse Hs"l~ is supplied as data from the trrmin~l 72 to the first stage of the shift register 70 at 30 the start of each hol~;a,ll~l sc~nning cycle period. Colored pixel data from the individual stages of the column register 62 are fetched sllrcçe~ively in les~ollse to the fei,yecli~e output of the shift stages of the shift register 70. Thus, as the odd or even WO95/09381 2 1 7 ~ PCT/US94110854 row drive lines 26 are successively driven in syllcl~lonism with the horizontal sync pulses Hsyn by the conventional arrangement of row registers 44 and row drive circuit 46, pixel data will be provided by the res~e~;liv-e column register 62 via a colum~ driver 71 to the respective column control line 30.
Multiple parallel column register 62 can be provided, such that while a gate pulse is active for one of the row control lines 26, (such as control line L~), the pixel data for the electrodes of the next scan line (such as line L3), is being sampled and placed into sample and hold regi~tel~ of the column registers 62. Thus, when the pixel data is provided on source lines Cl, C2, C3 . . ., as one row of triads of pixels is being sc.~nnf~-l, data for the next row of triads to be sc~nnf~-d is being routed to color signal busses 52, 54 and 56 which is to be s~bse~ ly loaded into column registers 62. This arrangement allows the display ele.;llodes 16 to be directly driven without auxiliary memorv or line storage capabilities.
Still referring to Figure 3, a thin film switching transistor 40, compri~ed of aFET, is provided for each red and green pixel electrode 16. FET 40 is also provided for each ofthe two blue pixel electrodes 16 of each triad 22. It is noted that the n~en~f nt of electrodes could be illh~challged such that it is the green electrodes or the red electrodes 16 which are divided in half. Hence, limitation to the exact o~ ;f ~ l ;on of colored electrodes by color is not to be inferred. As each control line 26 20 is scannPfl~ the lc*~e~ilive ~wilcllillg l.~c;~lol~ 40, having a gate tp~nin~l col~,)r-.il~d thereto, are rendered conductive. The source tf-rrnin~l of each ~wi~chillg transistor 40 is CO~...f~ to an ~acent control line 30, and the drain t~ n~l of each switching 40 is C~ f ~ to the a~ clont ~ e~ti~re pixel electrode 16. Thus~ as the les~,e~Liv~ ~wilchil1g l.~ (o~ 40 is rendered conductive by the ~.ljacent control line 26, 25 the pixel il~llll~lion, or voltage on the l~;~e~,liv-e acljacf-nt column signal line 30, is provided through the conductive FET to the re~ecliv-e pixel electrode 16. Thus, pixel ;.-ru....~l;on provided on the signal control lines 30 are l,~esf,ll~ed only to the pixel electrodes 16 ~jac~nt the sca~ kd row control line 26. The pixel information for the biru,~ ed blue pixel electrodes 16 is provided to each of the pixel electrodes, via the 30 leS~e~;ti~e ~ r~nt ~wilcl~ g transistor 40.
Referring to Figure 4, an ~ ;ve embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, column signal line C2, is only coupled, via a r~ ~ccli~e switching woss/~9381 2 1 7 1 2 1 9 ~cr/us94/10854 transistor 40, to each of the green pixel electrodes 16 in each adjacent column of pixel electrodes. The other two column signal control lines C~ and C3 are coupled to two di~~ colors of pixel electrodes in ~ cPnt columns of pixel electrodes 16. As shown, both signal control line C~ and C3 are coupled via switching transistors 40 to S each of the blue and red pixel electrodes 16 in adjacent columns. When signal control line C~ is providing pixel i..fo. ..~Ation to the red pixel electrodes 16 ofthe ~ c~nt columns, signal control line C3 iS providing pixel h~lllla~ion to the blue pixel electrodes 16. Thus, as the odd row control lines 26 are sOE~nn~l~ pixel information for the red pixel electrodes is provided on control line Cl, green pixel inforrnation is 10 provided on signal control line C2, and blue pixel infi7rm~tion is provided on signal control line C3. When the even row control lines 26 are Sc~nne~ wiL~ihillg circuit 50 reverses the conl~ ns ofthe R and B source lines 51 to the corresponding color signal busses 52 and 56 such that signal column line C, provides blue pixel information to the blue pixels 16 and signal column line C3 provides pixel i ~llllation to the red 15 pixel electrodes 16 in the ~ c~nt columns. This ~l~Ulgc;lllent somewhat ~implifies the ~wil~ lg circuit 50 and control ll~lgelllclll shown in Figure 3. One column control, such as C2, line is always ~ie~lic~ted to one color of pixel electrodes 16, wh~ lein the other two column signal control lines ~ .. Ilhl~ly control the red and blue pixel electrodes 16. Again, wLeLL~, an odd or even row control line 26 is being sc~nnrd 20 dictates wLe~ wilcLillg circuit 50 is routing the red pixel signals on R to color signal bus 52 or 56, and wll~th.,l the blue pixel signals on B are being routed to color signal bus 56 or 52.
Another ~ /t; embo-iim~nt ofthe present invention is shown in Figure 5.
Here, each ofthe two blue pixel electrodes 16 for a particular triad 22 are electric~lly 25 co~ ed together via a conductive bridge (80). Only one ~wilchillg tr~n~i~tor 40 is required to provide pixel illr~l...h~;on from the le~e-;Li~e signal control line 30 to each of the blue pixel electrodes. Thus, only one swilcllillg ~ sislol 40 is required for each of the three colors of pixel electrodes in a triad 22. In other words, only three switching 40 are ~ uhcd for each triad 22.
R~L. . ;.. g now back to Figure 3, one of the p. ;"~ip~l re~ s of the present invention is that 480 row control lines 26 are used for 720 pixel electrodes 16 in each column, with the birul~;~led blue electrode being considered one electrode. Thus, a WO9~3~1 2 1 7 ~ ~ 1 9 PCT/US9.1/108~

standard 480 active line colored video signal can be directly mapped onto a display panel structure having 720 columns of electrodes 16. Further, the 720 pixel electrodes 16 in each row, wherein each triad 22 co.~ ;ees electrodes of two adjacent columns, are partitioned such that there are a total of 360 triads of pixels 16 in each row which also 5 collc~onds to the number of pixel samples per line of the video source. Thus, the video source having 480 active colored signal control lines with 360 signal source .e~mples can be directly mapped onto the display of the present invention. No auxiliary memory or line storage COlllpOllclll~ are ~ uiled. The rotation of the triads 22 by 90 provides for a unique display without l~luilh~g a "ping-pong" memory. High resolution 10 is I"sl;"l;.;,~P.l the control electronics remain simple and manageable, and the current ",~....rA.~.t... ;..g techniques can be impl~n~P-nted lt is noted that the present matrix ~c~ ...c could be employed in other matrix technologies as well inr.hl(ling, but not limited to, EL displays, plasma displays, and field P ..;s~;o.. displays. Hence, limitation to an LCD display is not to be inferred.
This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the Patent ~tatutes and to provide those skilled in the art with theinfo....~I;cm needed to apply the novel p~ r;~lcs and to coll~ and use such speri~li7p~l coln~oll~ as are rcqu;led. However, it is to be understood that theinvention can be carried out by speçific~lly di~lelll e4.~ t and devices, and that 20 various mo-lifir.~fionc, both as to the e~ details and op~lalillg ~; rocedurcs, can be ~rcQ~nrli~hP~l without departing from the scope ofthe invention itsel

Claims (7)

1. A liquid-crystal multi-color display panel structure (20), comprising:
(a) a substantially transparent substrate (10);
(b) a plurality of color display pixel electrodes (16) disposed on said substrate (10) in a matrix array having columns extending in a first direction and rows extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said color display pixel electrodes (16) consisting of those of a first type for displaying in a first preselected color, those of a second type for displaying in second preselected color different from said first preselected color, and those of a third type for displaying in a third preselected color different from said first and second preselected colors, the color display pixel electrodes (16) of each of said columns being approximately a half pitch distance offset from the color display pixel electrodes (16) of the adjacent column, wherein one of said pixel electrode (16) of each said first, second and third preselected colors together form a generally triangular triad (22) having one side extending in the vertical direction;
(c) a plurality of signal lines (30) disposed between the columns of said electrodes (16) forming the matrix array and extending in the first direction, wherein a single one of said plurality of signal lines (30) is alternately disposed between adjacent ones of said columns, and wherein two of said plurality of signal lines (30) arealternately disposed between adjacent ones of said columns such that there are three total of said plurality of signal lines (30) for every two of said columns;
(d) a plurality of scanning lines (26), one scanning line (26) being disposedevery one and one-half rows of said electrodes (16) forming said matrix array and extending in the second direction between two said electrodes (16) of said first and second types in alternating ones of said columns and bifurcates one said electrode (16) of said third type into a first and second half in alternating ones of said columns;
(e) a plurality of switching transistors (40), each said transistor (40) having a first terminal connected to one of said color display pixel electrodes (16), a second terminal connected to one of said signal lines (30), and a third terminal connected to one of said scanning lines (26) to control conductivity between the respective first and second terminals;

(f) row drive means (44, 46) connected to said scanning lines (26) for driving each said plurality of scanning lines (26) in synchronism with the horizontal scanning cycle of a video signal;
(g) column drive means (62, 70, 71) having an input, and an output connected to said signal lines (30) for supplying a video signal to each of said signal lines (30); and (h) control means (50) coupled to the input of said column drive means (62, 70, 71) for controlling which of said video signals are supplied to said signal lines (30).

2. The display panel structure (20) as specified in Claim 1 wherein two of everythree said signal lines (30) are connected to the third terminals of the switching transistors (40) associated with the pixel electrodes (16) of two different of said color types.

3. The display panel structure (20) as specified in Claim 1 wherein each said signal line (30) is connected to the third terminals of the switching transistors (40) associated with the electrodes (16) of two different said color types.

4. The display panel structure (20) of Claim 2 wherein said control means (50) alternatively supplies the video signal oftwo of said different types of colors to two of every three said signal lines (30).

5. The display panel structure (20) of Claim 3 wherein said control means (50) alternatively supplies the video signal of two of said different types of colors to each said signal lines (30).

6. The display panel structure (20) of Claim 1 wherein the first and second halves of said third types of electrodes (16) are electrically connected together (80).

7. The display panel structure (20) of Claim 1 wherein one said switching transistor (40) is connected to each of said first and second halves of said third type of electrodes (16) with each disposed on opposite sides of the adjacent scanning line (26) from the other.